The novel plays out in three historic frames: 1919 Bavaria, Germany; Second World War France; France in 1960.

We meet the main character, Yann, in 1960. He is a semi-retired French journalist, professor, and Camus scholar who is plagued by a lifetime of regrets. He finds hope in an unforeseen friendship with Klaus, the only son of Karl, a German soldier who saved Yann's life in 1919. Klaus is a depressed young man burdened by history and challenged by the stories that he encourages Yann to revisit and to share.

These fateful events took place during World War II when Yann again met Karl and also Madeleine, a French engineer and Resistance fighter who attempts to recruit Yann to join the Resistance. Yann's hesitation eventually leads to Madeleine's death, and this will haunt Yann ever after.